The Bible
We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be verbally inspired by God, and inerrant in the original documents, and that they alone are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. The Bible is the only, the complete, and the final written revelation of God to man and is infallible (Proverbs 30:5-6; Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:18-19).
The Godhead
We believe there is one God, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that He is the creator of heaven and earth. One God, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections; and each of Whom is to be honored and worshiped as God. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31, 147:5; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3, 8-12).
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ is God the Son, the promised Messiah, the only begotten Son of God, the eternal Word manifested in flesh. We believe that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and that He is true God and true man, without sin. He is the only mediator between God and Man (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 14:61-62; John 1:1-3, 14, 29, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:2-9, 2:14-15; 1 John 5:20).
The Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. That through His death on the cross, He paid for all sin, completely satisfied the righteous wrath of God against sin, and provided redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, and justification to all who believe, on the ground of His shed blood.
We believe that our Lord arose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and in the same physical body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which, at the return of Christ, will be given to all resurrected believers.
We believe that our Lord bodily ascended to heaven, was seated at His Father’s right hand, assuring us of the perfection of His work of redemption, and that He now as Head over all things to the Church is engaged on behalf of the saved as intercessor and advocate (Isaiah 53:5-6; Luke 24:36-43; John 1:18, 3:16, 20:25-28; Acts 1:6-11; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:24; 1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 20:6).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, being the third person of the Godhead, convicts men of sin, regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals and sets believers apart to a holy life; that He keeps and empowers believer’s day by day. We believe that He is the teacher of the Word of God and our guide for daily life (Matthew 28:19; John 16:8; Romans 8:9-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14).
Man
We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, and that he fell through sin; and, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and that he became subject to the power of the devil. We also believe that this spiritual death, or total depravity of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race of man, the Man Christ Jesus alone being excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially corrupt in body, mind and soul. Apart from God’s salvation man is lost eternally (Genesis 1:27; 9:6; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1).
Sin
Sin is violation of, or disobedience to, the revealed will of God. It is also a state, the absence of righteousness or anything that falls short of the perfect glory of God. God has established that the penalty for sin is death (Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:23; James 2:10; 4:17; Revelation 20:11-15).
Salvation
We believe that without the shedding of the precious blood of Christ, there is no remission of sin. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and entirely apart from law-keeping, merit, sacrament, or good works. It is entered into by all those who hear and understand the Gospel, repent of their sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Savior (Mark 1:15; John 1:12-13; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22).
Assurance and Security
We believe in the eternal security and everlasting blessedness of the saved (Psalm 97:10; John 6:37:40; 10:27-28; Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 2:19; 5:13; I Peter 1:5), and the eternal conscious punishment of the lost (Matthew 8:12; 13:41-42; 18:8; 25:46; Jude 6, 7, 13; Revelation 14:9-11).
The Destiny of Man
At death, the redeemed pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until their bodily resurrection unto life. The unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until their bodily resurrection resulting in damnation (Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:22-23, 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 3:10, 11, 21; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).
The Church
We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is composed solely of those who have been redeemed and washed in His blood, regenerated and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and that they are saved to worship and to serve; that it is the responsibility and privilege of all who are saved to seek to win others to Christ, to the “uttermost part of the earth”; that they should seek to live a holy life.
Each local assembly or church should be a miniature of the universal church, expressing the great truths of the latter. The local assembly is made up of believers in the Lord Jesus who have been baptized following their conversion and who meet together for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers and evangelism. Christ is the head of each assembly and He entrusts leadership to the elders, men who are recognized as Christ’s under-shepherds. Each assembly is to have deacons to serve the practical needs of the assembly (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:24-25, 30; Acts 6:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:17).
Ordinances
There are two Christian ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism by immersion signifies that the believer has died with Christ, has been buried with Him and has risen to walk in newness of life with Him.
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial feast at which believers worship the Lord and show forth His death until He comes again. In accordance with the early church, the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated every Lord’s Day (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 10:47-48; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:26).
Marriage
We believe that from the beginning of creation there is a clear distinction between male and female; they are equal, but different. Holy Scripture makes it clear that the divine design for marriage is one man and one woman in an exclusive and permanent relationship, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5-9, Ephesians 5:31-33).
Human Sexuality
We believe that homosexuality is sinful and unnatural. We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is the only legitimate and accepted sexual relationship ordained by God. We believe that God forbids sexual activity outside of marriage. We believe that any form of adultery, fornication, incest, polygamy, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, and pornography is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus 20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 5:27-28, Matthew 15:19, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:5).
We believe that men and women should affirm their biological sex and that attempts to physically change or alter one’s biological sex by surgery or appearance, reflect a heart that does not submit to God’s good and sovereign right to determine our sex and thus are disapproved of and forbidden by God. (Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Christian Life and Priorities
Christians are called to live a holy life. All the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God.
They are to be disciples of Jesus Christ and as such, to live lives of service and testimony in the power of the Holy Spirit. This service includes ministry in the church and propagation of the gospel to the whole world. They are forbidden by Christ to lay up treasure on earth and are promised a reward in heaven for faithfulness in serving God on earth (Matthew 6:19-34; Mark 8:34-35; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 John 2:6, 15-17; 2 John 9-11).
Spiritual Gifts
God is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts; that the gifts of evangelist and pastor-teacher are given to the church for the equipping of the saints today; Christ gives to each believer, at conversion, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, some gift or gifts to equip him to serve the Lord and edify other believers. Gifts are given by a sovereign act of God’s Spirit and not in response to the desires or prayers of men. Some gifts were foundation, and the miraculous gifts, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues and the working of sign miracles, were gifts given as a sign to the Jews during the transitional period as the church was being established. These foundation and miraculous gifts ceased when their purposes were accomplished (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 14:22; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:3-4; 1 Peter 4:10).
Future Events
God has revealed different dispensations, or stewardships, with corresponding rules governing life and relationship with God. In every dispensation, the way of salvation is by faith alone. The present dispensation is the age of grace. The church did not exist prior to this age, and does not take the place of Israel in the prophecies of Scripture. The personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus to rapture the Church will be followed in order by the seven-year tribulation, Christ’s literal thousand-year reign on earth, and the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and blessings for the saved (Matthew 24:21, 29-30; 25:46; Romans 6:14; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:2-6; Colossians 1:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:4-10; Hebrews 7:18-19; Revelation 10:1-6).